Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type

Articles 1291 - 1320 of 6508

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Parent Reactions To Sexual And Gender Identity Disclosure Events In The Deep South, Allison Claire Estep Jan 2020

Parent Reactions To Sexual And Gender Identity Disclosure Events In The Deep South, Allison Claire Estep

All ETDs from UAB

Disclosure of sexuality by coming out is a central part of the process of self-identification for LGBT youth (Denes & Afifi, 2014). Parents’ initial response to their child’s coming out is linked to parent-child relationship satisfaction and if the child will later feel the need to come out for a second time or to clarify their sexual identity (Denes et al. 2014). Parental acceptance of LGBT youth’s disclosure has been linked to higher self-esteem and lower rates of suicidal tendencies, depression, and substance abuse (Needham & Austin, 2010; Ryan, Russell, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2010). Current research regarding parent reactions …


The Benefits Of Automation In Forensic Toxicology: A Lean Six Sigma And Cost-Analysis Approach, Sarah Guertin Jan 2020

The Benefits Of Automation In Forensic Toxicology: A Lean Six Sigma And Cost-Analysis Approach, Sarah Guertin

All ETDs from UAB

Reducing backlogs, improving case turnaround times, and streamlining methodologies are major focus points for forensic toxicology laboratories. In order to reduce expenses and save time, some laboratories have implemented protocols that limit their scope of testing for driving under the influence (DUI) cases. However, this approach will not only provide less information toward DUI investigations but also limit the data available to fully capture the drugged-driving problem in the United States and inhibit offenders from receiving rehabilitation. This research project explored the impact of incorporating fully automated methods into the forensic toxicology laboratory as a solution to saving money and …


Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Particles: Ph-Sensitive Multilayer Capsules And Biodegradable Polylactic Acid Microsponges, Nirzari Gupta Jan 2020

Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Particles: Ph-Sensitive Multilayer Capsules And Biodegradable Polylactic Acid Microsponges, Nirzari Gupta

All ETDs from UAB

The behavior of stimuli-responsive polymers is often inspired by the desire to mimic nature. Over the years, the development of polymeric systems, which respond to the environment by changing their physical and/or chemical properties, has been increased in biomedical and environmental applications. The demand for fresh water is also growing dramatically. This long-term development in the global water situation is closely connected to the growth of the world population and global climate change. In recent years, the use of nanomaterials in water remediation has increased considerably. In addition, shape and stimuli-responsiveness to size and surface chemistry of micro-engineered delivery carriers …


Disease Specific Dysregulation Of Stat1 And Stat5 Activation In Mature Cd4+ And Cd8+ T Cells Influences Enhanced Kinetic Responses And Inflammation In Patients With Treatment-Naïve Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (Rrms), Brandon Jay Pope Jan 2020

Disease Specific Dysregulation Of Stat1 And Stat5 Activation In Mature Cd4+ And Cd8+ T Cells Influences Enhanced Kinetic Responses And Inflammation In Patients With Treatment-Naïve Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (Rrms), Brandon Jay Pope

All ETDs from UAB

Autoimmunity is propagated through the lack of effective mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. In relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), dysregulated adaptive immune cells have been shown to contribute to disease morbidity through the influence of immune-modulating cytokines in the peripheral blood. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a cytokine with several key functions in regulating homeostatic mechanisms within the human immune system. Interferon gamma (IFNγ) is a type II interferon that is needed for an effective response to intracellular bacteria infection through the actions of Th1 cells. IL-2 and IFNγ signaling occurs primarily through signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) activation. …


Noninvasive Neuromodulation Using A Benchtop Approach To Mri-Guided Focused Ultrasound Blood Brain Barrier Opening, Megan Rich Jan 2020

Noninvasive Neuromodulation Using A Benchtop Approach To Mri-Guided Focused Ultrasound Blood Brain Barrier Opening, Megan Rich

All ETDs from UAB

Fundamental neuroscience research has provided a deeper understanding of the genes, molecules and cellular circuitry involved in neurological disorders, however translating discovery into clinical application remains a major challenge. This bench to bedside gap is in part due to the discrepancy in techniques used in the laboratory vs. the clinic for targeting the mechanisms that underlie disease. Ideally this discrepancy would be resolved not only by implementing novel clinical techniques to provide more precise targeting of disease foci, but also by using the same techniques in the clinic that are used at the lab bench to provide a direct bench …


The Reproductive Ecology Of The Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys Terrapin Pileata) In Coastal Alabama: Implications For Conservation Amid Global Climate Change, Catherine Audrey Sirgo Jan 2020

The Reproductive Ecology Of The Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys Terrapin Pileata) In Coastal Alabama: Implications For Conservation Amid Global Climate Change, Catherine Audrey Sirgo

All ETDs from UAB

The diamondback terrapin is the only emydid turtle within the United States that exclusively resides in salt marsh habitats. Over the past century, the species has seen dramatic declines in numbers due to being exploited for terrapin soup as well as other threats, including crab trap induced mortality, nest depredation, and habitat alteration or loss. In addition to these well-known historic threats, global climate change has become a growing concern due its potential threats on the terrapin and its habitat. The goal of this study was to assess the reproductive ecology of the Mississippi diamondback terrapins that reside within the …


Epitranscriptomic Regulation Of Fibroblast Activation In Diseased Heart, Zainab Gbongbo Suleiman Jan 2020

Epitranscriptomic Regulation Of Fibroblast Activation In Diseased Heart, Zainab Gbongbo Suleiman

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a chemokine released during cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. Evidence has shown that it plays a significant role in fibroblast differentiation/activation to myofibroblasts , which ultimately leads to adverse cardiac remodeling. It is previously suggested that m6A methylation plays important role in cardiac pathology in both ischemic and hypertrophic heart failure [1, 2], however, its role in fibroblast activation/differentiation is largely unknown. Therefore, in this study we investigated the relationship between m6A methylation and fibroblast activation using proinflammatory/profibrotic factor, TGFβ. Methods: Fibroblasts were isolated from neonatal rat heart and activated with TGFβ for 48 …


Exploring The Roles Of Long Non-Coding Rnas In Glioblastoma Tumor Recurrence And Therapy Resistance, Christian Tyler Stackhouse Jan 2020

Exploring The Roles Of Long Non-Coding Rnas In Glioblastoma Tumor Recurrence And Therapy Resistance, Christian Tyler Stackhouse

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and devastating primary CNS brain tumor with a median survival time of around 14 months. Most patients succumb to re-current disease which is often more malignant than the primary tumor and is frequently therapy resistant. There have not been significant advances in the treatment of GBM despite decades of research. This is partly due to the lack of accurate preclinical models and of the focus on primary rather than recurrent tumors. We created a 350 gene custom GBM-specific panel which contains 16 molecular signatures including molecular sub-typing signatures. We have demonstrated concordance of …


Functionalized Aromatic Organic Scintillators As Tools For Non-Invasive Optogenetics, David French Jan 2020

Functionalized Aromatic Organic Scintillators As Tools For Non-Invasive Optogenetics, David French

All ETDs from UAB

Optogenetics is a growing discipline of neuroscience that attempts to control brain circuits using light. Current techniques involving surgically implanted light-emittingdiodes are highly invasive. This limitation could be avoided by the use of a tissuepenetrative light source, such as x-rays, and a locally applied down-converting material. This work describes the design, optimization, and proof-of-concept application of organic aromatic-based scintillators as non-invasive tools for optogenetics. The first chapter describes the synthesis of 2-anthryl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate copolymers and an evaluation of their use as x-ray induced scintillators (radioluminescence). The 2-anthryl methacrylate monomer and the copolymers all exhibited radioluminescence in the solid state. …


The Impact Of The Edtpa: An Inside Look From The Perspectives Of Teacher Candidates And Novice Teachers, Hannah Stephens Kennedy Jan 2020

The Impact Of The Edtpa: An Inside Look From The Perspectives Of Teacher Candidates And Novice Teachers, Hannah Stephens Kennedy

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of the qualitative research study was to examine the perspectives and experiences of teacher candidates and novice teachers regarding the edTPA assessment for teacher certification at a public university in the southeast. Aside from understanding their perspectives, the researcher hoped to gain an understanding of the impact on teaching practices and real-life experiences in the classroom. Research questions served as the framework for this study, including the following: (1) How do participants describe their perspectives and experiences as teacher candidates in the process of completing edTPA? (2) How do teacher candidates describe how edTPA influences their perspectives on …


Facial Recognition With Image Signaling: Efficacy Of Two Factor Authentication Utilizing A Single Image Input Mechanism On A Smartphone, Jaret Langston Jan 2020

Facial Recognition With Image Signaling: Efficacy Of Two Factor Authentication Utilizing A Single Image Input Mechanism On A Smartphone, Jaret Langston

All ETDs from UAB

Society generates 2.8 quintillion bytes of new data every day. Much of this data is sensitive information that should be protected from unauthorized access. Sensitive information is defined as information that, if compromised or misused, could adversely affect the privacy of the individual or organization. There are many types of information that fit this definition and places it is found, but for this discussion we will focus on: • Personally Identifiable Information (PII) (e.g., birth date, social security number, driver’s license number, passport number). • Medical information (e.g., insurance policy numbers, prescriptions, history). • Consumer information (e.g., credit card, banking, …


Cd8 T-Cell Responses To A Diverse Virus: Adaptation And Cross-Reactivity In Hiv Vaccination, Sushma Boppana Jan 2020

Cd8 T-Cell Responses To A Diverse Virus: Adaptation And Cross-Reactivity In Hiv Vaccination, Sushma Boppana

All ETDs from UAB

In the four decades since human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was discovered, significant progress has been made in treating HIV infection and in understanding the viral and immune dynamics underlying disease pathogenesis. However, in spite of scientific advances, HIV remains a significant global health issue, and an effective preventative vaccine has yet to be created. Many groups have demonstrated the importance of CD8 T cells in viral control during natural HIV infection and believe that CD8 T cells could contribute to vaccine efficacy by alleviating disease course in individuals who became infected despite vaccination. One major obstacle to inducing potent CD8 …


‘Is The Dress Made To Excite Me?’: Analyzing Gender Narratives As Social Protest In Mae West’S The Drag And Joe Orton’S What The Butler Saw, Toby Camp Jan 2020

‘Is The Dress Made To Excite Me?’: Analyzing Gender Narratives As Social Protest In Mae West’S The Drag And Joe Orton’S What The Butler Saw, Toby Camp

All ETDs from UAB

The Drag, the second play Mae West ever wrote and produced, debuted in 1927; What the Butler Saw, Joe Orton’s final play debuted in 1969, two years after its author’s death. These comedies are very similar when considered through the lens of Judith Butler’s gender performance theory, most notably from her books Gender Trouble (1990) and Bodies that Matter (1993). In the latter book, she notes that “Drag is subversive to the extent that it reflects on the imitative structure by which the hegemonic gender is itself produced and disputes heterosexuality’s claim on naturalness and originality” (85). Accordingly, since gender …


Self-Awareness Of Functional Deficits In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kayla Ann Steward Jan 2020

Self-Awareness Of Functional Deficits In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kayla Ann Steward

All ETDs from UAB

Performance of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) can become compromised in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Poor self-awareness of deficits, also known as anosognosia, occurs in a substantial minority of those with MCI and varies in extent depending on the domain examined. This dissertation attempts to explain the inter- and intra-patient variability in anosognosia by examining (1) differences in objective IADL performance and self-awareness of functional difficulties between those with amnestic single- (-ASD) and multi-domain (-AMD) MCI, and by examining (2) the neuropsychological and (3) neuroanatomical correlates of anosognosia for IADLs in older adults across a broad …


Use Of Lc-Qtof-Ms For Determining The Presence Of Illicit Substances In Urine, Rebecca Howell Jan 2020

Use Of Lc-Qtof-Ms For Determining The Presence Of Illicit Substances In Urine, Rebecca Howell

All ETDs from UAB

Confirmation testing for drug screens has most commonly been conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), but the use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods has been gaining popularity in recent years. This can be attributed to several advantages that LC-MS has over GC-MS including the ability to detect non-volatile, thermolabile and polar compounds. Additionally, most compounds can be analyzed without any previous derivatization steps, meaning that sample prepara-tion is simpler, cheaper and faster. The method used for this study consisted of using a nano-LC-electrospray ionization (ESI) system in conjunction with a hybrid Quadrupole OrthogonalTime-of-Flight mass spectrometer (QTOF-MS), which yields high …


Novel Mechanisms Of Nitric Oxide Activation In The Kidney, Randee Sedaka Jan 2020

Novel Mechanisms Of Nitric Oxide Activation In The Kidney, Randee Sedaka

All ETDs from UAB

Globally, adult sodium consumption has far exceeded daily intake recommendations, leading to one in ten cardiovascular deaths. Given the rise in hypertension prevalence, uncontrolled hypertension with antihypertensive medication use, and significant associations between high salt intake and high blood pressure, there is a need to better understand the mechanisms involved in hypertension. Nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) is a well-established regulator of fluid and electrolyte balance in the renal collecting duct (CD) with highest activity in the inner medulla (IM). We previously reported that high salt (HS) intake stimulates CD endothelin B receptor (ETBR)/NOS1-dependent generation of NO, thereby inhibiting the …


Diurnal Dysfunction In Control Of Sodium Excretion In Diet-Induced Obesity, Reham Soliman Jan 2020

Diurnal Dysfunction In Control Of Sodium Excretion In Diet-Induced Obesity, Reham Soliman

All ETDs from UAB

The renal endothelin system plays a key role in sodium excretion, particularly under high salt (HS) diet. HS stimulates renal endothelin-1 (ET-1), which binds and activates the endothelin receptor B (ETB) to excrete the excess salt. Loss of ETB receptor is linked to the development of hypertension under HS. Central clock genes are important in maintaining rhythmic patterns of sodium excretion and ET-1 is identified as a target for clock genes, including Period and Bmal1. ET-1 excretion follows a diurnal rhythm along with sodium excretion. Sexual dimorphism is evident in the diurnal regulation of endothelin-mediated natriuresis and its downstream targets. …


Mitochondrial Priming Of Tumor Initiating Cells Involves Repression Of Mitochondrial Fission Activity Towards Redox Regulation Of The Cell Cycle Regulator Cyclin E, Brian Spurlock Jan 2020

Mitochondrial Priming Of Tumor Initiating Cells Involves Repression Of Mitochondrial Fission Activity Towards Redox Regulation Of The Cell Cycle Regulator Cyclin E, Brian Spurlock

All ETDs from UAB

Mitochondrial dynamics primarily refers to the opposing fission or fusion events between individual mitochondria, which maintains steady-state mitochondrial morphology in cells. Fission and fusion activities maintain the energetics of normal and neoplastic stem cells. We developed the novel approach mito-SinCe2 to study the bidirectional relationship between mitochondrial dynamics and energetics. Application of this method led to the hypothesis that mitochondria-dependent ovarian tumor initiating cells interconvert between 3 states with distinct mitochondrial energetics/dynamics relationships. Cells in one state, characterized by high mitochondrial ROS and low fission activity, appear to be primed for self-renewal by mitochondria. We call these cells mitochondria-primed stem …


Pheochromocytoma: A Systematic Review Of The Diagnosis, Treatment, And Risk Factors, Brandon A. Singletary Jan 2020

Pheochromocytoma: A Systematic Review Of The Diagnosis, Treatment, And Risk Factors, Brandon A. Singletary

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Pheochromocytomas and extra-adrenal paragangliomas (PGLs) are forms of neuroendocrine tumors which when left untreated lead to debilitating complications of cerebral hemorrhaging, stroke, and death. Typically, the tumors present with symptoms of episodic headaches, sweating, and palpitations, however hypertension is considered one of the more predominant signs. As a result of the rarity of the disease and wide range of symptoms, there are often difficulties in screening and diagnosis to identify these tumors. While there are many case studies and results in small populations, large epidemiologic driven studies are limited. To date the majority of large-scale studies exist in countries …


Toxin Secretion By Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Uday Tak Jan 2020

Toxin Secretion By Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Uday Tak

All ETDs from UAB

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a highly infectious airborne bacterial pathogen, and the causative agent of human tuberculosis. Mtb infects approximately one-third of the human population, and is responsible for more deaths than any other infectious disease in the history of mankind. Mtb is an intracellular pathogen and primarily infects myeloid cells, such as macrophages in the human lung. In macrophages, Mtb establishes a replication niche within membrane-bound vacuoles named phagosomes, while subverting immunity. The intracellular survival of Mtb depends on manipulation of host cellular processes through secreted effector proteins. Ultimately, this intracellular vacuole is ruptured by the type VII secretion …


Uav Navigation, Tracking, And Interception Using Deep Reinforcement Learning, Ali Alhaj Darwish Jan 2020

Uav Navigation, Tracking, And Interception Using Deep Reinforcement Learning, Ali Alhaj Darwish

All ETDs from UAB

We propose a self-supervised, model-free deep reinforcement learning architecture with cascade reward for unmanned aerial vehicle navigation and target interception in a 3D environment. The first contribution of the dissertation solves the problem of partial observability when non-linear function approximators are used for learning stochastic policies. The second contribution optimizes the problem of maximizing the total expected rewards. The third contribution trains the agent in a photo-realistic environment with a real physics engine. To achieve these goals, a deep Q-network that combines double and dueling architectures is adopted as a value function approximator, and the prioritized experience replays the sample …


Creatinine Detection Based On Molecularly Imprinted Technique And Luminescence Of Nano-Diamond As A Signal Transducer, Reim Almotiri Jan 2020

Creatinine Detection Based On Molecularly Imprinted Technique And Luminescence Of Nano-Diamond As A Signal Transducer, Reim Almotiri

All ETDs from UAB

Creatinine measurement is an important diagnostic test for assessing kidney health. This work represents our current progress in creatinine artificial sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer of polyacrylamide hydrogel and nanodiamonds fluorescence change. For a 0.3 mM creatinine rebinding solution, an imprinting factor of 2.54 was measured. Also, a molecularly imprinted polymer was obtained by incorporating nanodiamond into a creatinine-imprinted polyacrylamide hydrogel. The quenching of peak nanodiamond fluorescence was significantly higher in the creatinine-imprinted polymer compared to the non-imprinted polymer, indicative of higher creatinine affinity in the imprinted polymer. Nanodiamond fluorescence from nitrogen-vacancy color centers (NV- and NV0) was …


Mid-Fusiform Sulcus Anatomy And Its Relationship To Face Processing And Social Functioning In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Carla Ammons Jan 2020

Mid-Fusiform Sulcus Anatomy And Its Relationship To Face Processing And Social Functioning In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Carla Ammons

All ETDs from UAB

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests. One of the most consistent findings in ASD is reduced attention to and atypical processing of faces. However, the brain basis of aberrant face processing in ASD remains opaque. A novel neuroanatomical feature, the mid-fusiform sulcus (MFS), is strongly associated with face-selective regions of the fusiform gyrus (FG) as well as other large-scale functional and structural divisions in the ventral temporal cortex (Weiner et al., 2014). However, this feature is unexplored in ASD. The overarching goal of this dissertation …


Prediction Of The Optimal Catheter Placement Selection For Therapy Infusion To Treat Brain Tumors, Lisa Hope Antoine Jan 2020

Prediction Of The Optimal Catheter Placement Selection For Therapy Infusion To Treat Brain Tumors, Lisa Hope Antoine

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT In 2020, the National Brain Tumor Society reported that physicians would diagnose more than 87,000 new cases of brain tumors. These cases will add to the approximately 700,000 individuals in the United States living with brain and central nervous system tumors. Almost 18,000 of these cases will prove fatal [1]. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) hinders the effective treatment of brain tumors. The task of this barrier is to protect the brain from composition instabilities in blood plasma and shield the brain from agents that may adversely impact brain functionality. However, by performing its tasks the barrier prevents potential effective …


Understanding The Impact Of Diet And Obesity On Anti-Tumor Immunity And Therapeutic Efficacy In Kidney Cancer, Rachael Miller Orlandella Jan 2020

Understanding The Impact Of Diet And Obesity On Anti-Tumor Immunity And Therapeutic Efficacy In Kidney Cancer, Rachael Miller Orlandella

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is regarded as a major risk factor for developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Advanced-stage RCC exhibits chemotherapeutic resistance, but is responsive to immunotherapies such as the immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1). Despite some clinical successes, response rates remain low for anti-PD-1 monotherapy (20-30%). Preclinical evaluations of immunotherapeutic strategies typically use lean mice and do not account for patient comorbidities. This may explain the underwhelming success rates following clinical translation of new cancer treatments. Recent studies found that obesity was associated with favorable outcomes and responses to immunotherapy in melanoma. However, the effects of obesity on anti-tumor immunity …


Role Of Trib3 In Progression And Pathogenesis Of Diabetic Retinopathy, Priyamvada Milind Pitale Jan 2020

Role Of Trib3 In Progression And Pathogenesis Of Diabetic Retinopathy, Priyamvada Milind Pitale

All ETDs from UAB

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is reported to be one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States by Center for Disease Prevention and Control. As the estimated prevalence of the disease will likely triple by 2020, the research in this area should focus on identifying novel targets and therapeutic approaches. One of the therapeutic approaches for DR is the reprograming of retinal metabolism to delay the progression of the disease. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is recognized as a cellular pathway activated in diabetic retina which interacts with key transcription factors to physiologically regulate glucose, lipid homeostasis, and angiogenic …


Novel Hiv Adaptation Strategy Against Host Cd8 T Cell Immunity, Kai Qin Jan 2020

Novel Hiv Adaptation Strategy Against Host Cd8 T Cell Immunity, Kai Qin

All ETDs from UAB

Since the 1980s, HIV infection has caused millions of death and tremendous economic losses worldwide. Despite great scientific advances, the only effective therapy to date, antiretroviral therapy (ART), merely delays disease progression yet cannot eradicate viral infection. Therefore, an effective HIV vaccine that can prevent the acquisition of infection would be a desirable alternative. The critical role of CD8 T-cell immunity in HIV infection has been well documented and therefore not surprisingly a great deal of effort has been focused on developing an effective CD8 T-cell based HIV vaccine. However, by far, such CD8 T-cell based HIV vaccine trials have …


An Investigation Of Ion Bombardment From Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition During Bias Enhanced Nucleation Of Boron-Rich Materials, Bhavesh Ramkorun Jan 2020

An Investigation Of Ion Bombardment From Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition During Bias Enhanced Nucleation Of Boron-Rich Materials, Bhavesh Ramkorun

All ETDs from UAB

This study involves an Ar/H2 plasma acting on a negatively DC-biased silicon sub-strate in a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. The flow rate of hydro-gen was constant at 500 sccm, and that of argon was varied between 0 sccm and 500 sccm. Bias current was recorded for several values of the applied bias voltage ranging from – 100V to – 340V. At 10 and 20 torr, a peak in the bias current was found as argon flow rate changed. A decrease in current with varied argon intensi-ty in glow discharge plasma has been reported in the literature. Our results sub-stantiate …


Novel Methods For Image Analysis To Evaluate Relationships Between Biomarkers In Alzheimer's Disease, Fabio Raman Jan 2020

Novel Methods For Image Analysis To Evaluate Relationships Between Biomarkers In Alzheimer's Disease, Fabio Raman

All ETDs from UAB

Neuroimaging biomarkers, including pathological amyloid and tau measured with positron emission tomography (PET) and neurodegeneration measured with magnetic res-onance (MR), are part of the research framework for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Abnormal brain amyloid is currently the earliest established phenotypic marker of AD, and other imaging biomarkers such as tau-PET become abnormal later in the progression of AD pathophysiology. The ability to measure amyloid and predict both tau status and cogni-tion using a single amyloid-PET study through a method readily employed in both re-search and clinical settings would provide a valuable tool in assessing AD. The first goal of this dissertation …


Investigating Growth-Related Hormones And Their Roles In Metabolism In Fish Skeletal Muscle, Ross Michael Lee Reid Jan 2020

Investigating Growth-Related Hormones And Their Roles In Metabolism In Fish Skeletal Muscle, Ross Michael Lee Reid

All ETDs from UAB

The endocrine system is essential for the maintenance and regulation of skeletal muscle growth and metabolic processes, as secretions of growth-related hormones directly regulate these systems. The roles of these growth-related hormones are well understood in mammals yet are not well defined in teleosts. Thus, the work outlined in these chapters provides novel insight for the actions of two growth-related hormones, Growth Hormone (GH) and Teneurin C-terminal Associated Peptide (TCAP), in fish skeletal muscle. First, Chapter 2 highlights the work expanding the application of resazurin as a novel method of in vivo metabolic assessment across fish life-stages, which was utilized …